Chapter 37 - Finally, It’s Me! (1/2)

”Jing'er!” Madam Zhong reacted before Qiu Ling. She got up and ran to her son, pulling him into her embrace and starting to cry again.

Jing Yi clung unto her, but his eyes didn't leave the bodies. Qiu Ling gritted his teeth. Why couldn't his love wait a while longer? He could have made those bodies disappear with just a moment more!

Jing Yi's lips quivered, as if he'd start crying again every moment. But finally, he only bit down on his lower lip and stayed quiet. Qiu Ling sighed. There was nothing he could do. Jing Yi had already seen. That couldn't be changed. So he should concentrate on the things, that could be done.

He went over to Mister Zhong and knelt on the ground before him. ”Let me take a look at that.”

Mister Zhong watched him a little warily, but Qiu Ling didn't say anything else. He just waited.

”Ah Lei!” Madam Zhong picked up her son and hurried over to her husband. ”Don't be like that! The daoist master already offered to help. There's no reason to recline. You're not inconveniencing him.” She threw him a meaningful glance and Mister Zhong finally let go of his arm.

Qiu Ling didn't bother with Mister Zhong's skepticism. He ripped the sleeve and looked at the wound. The blade had cut deep into the flesh, but thankfully, the bone wasn't injured. It would take a lot of time to heal, but it wasn't impossible. If he treated it with care, in a few weeks, nothing would remain.

However, all of that was under the requirement, that the injury was attended to. Qiu Ling narrowed his eyes. He extended his senses and found a small pond not far from there. ”We'll need to rinse the wound first of all. There is a pond half a li northwest of here. I'd suggest, we bring you there. Thankfully, those men brought horses.” He got up and went to one of the animals. It snuffled and pawed at the ground. Qiu Ling patted its head and it slowly calmed down.

That was one of the small advantages of being a dragon in the mortal realm: Animals felt his heritage and didn't dare misbehave. Whatever he wanted them to do, they'd do. Though, his presence did make them nervous.

Madam Zhong sat down her son and helped her husband up. They walked to the horse slowly, but hesitated at the side. Qiu Ling lifted his brows. ”You do know, how to ride a horse, don't you?”

Madam Zhong shook her head. Her husband didn't say anything. He already felt dizzy, after continuously losing blood. And what was there to say anyway? They were simple village folk. Even if someone had a horse — like Mister Mao for example — they wouldn't use it in an extravagant way like riding. They would let them draw a cart instead, to move some goods for the villagers, if it was necessary.

Qiu Ling didn't really understand that. The human world was mostly foreign to him, after all. ”Mn. You don't have to actually do anything. Just hold on tight.” He helped Mister Zhong up into the saddle and grabbed the reins. His gaze slid to Jing Yi. Was the boy still afraid? Did he … fault him, for what he had done? Had he even seen him killing those men?

”Little boy …”, Qiu Ling called out and went up to him. He squatted down before him and cast down his gaze, afraid to look at him. ”Do you … fault me, for what I did?” He took a peek and found Jing Yi only blinking his eyes at him. ”I killed those men. Do you mind?”